A History of the American Revolution as Seen on Obsolete American Paper Money

During the years 1790-1865 the U.S. Federal Government chose not to issue paper money. It did issue coins. The individual states were left with the choice of chartering banks and allowing them to issue paper money as they saw fit. Many of the banks applied to print and distribute “banknotes” and the odds were in their favor for this to be a very profitable exercise. At best there were lax requirements for these issues to be backed with precious metals. But, it also turned out to be a time for the visual recording of historical events that I am sure the directors of the banking institutions had not envisioned. The vignettes on the notes were chosen mostly to promote the bank by showing something familiar or historical to the public. Because the banks were free to choose the designs of their issues many chose to portray famous people or scenes of local interest and even historic happenings. This program deals with the vignettes on bank bills having only to do with the American Revolution. One will see how precisely history had been recorded on these issues and note the vast difference in visual appearance of paper money of the mid 1800s compared to the bills we carry with us today.

Join the library while they visit many of the historic moments during the American Revolution and see the actual bills they were portrayed on and in general use during the early to mid 1800s.

John Ferreri of the Mansfield Numismatic Society will be the presenter.

This program is free and open to the public in the Buchanan Auditorium.